NA passes bill criminalising child marriage under 18

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Friday passed a landmark bill outlawing child marriages, declaring the solemnisation or registration of a marriage involving individuals under the age of 18 a criminal offence.

According to the bill, nikah registrars will be legally bound to verify the ages of both parties through computerised national identity cards before registering a nikah. Failure to do so will result in penalties, including up to one year in prison, a fine of Rs100,000, or both.

Man commits suicide over 13-year-old daughter’s Vani marriage

The legislation explicitly states that marrying a girl under 18 — even with her consent — will be treated as a punishable crime. Men above the age of 18 who marry underage girls will face rigorous imprisonment of at least two years and up to three years, along with a fine.

The bill further declares that any sexual activity following such a marriage will be considered statutory rape. Anyone who facilitates, forces, or lures a minor into marriage will also be liable under rape-related charges.

Arranging the marriage of a minor — whether a boy or girl — will carry a punishment of five to seven years in prison and a fine of up to Rs1 million. Individuals employing, sheltering, or taking custody of a child for the purpose of marriage will face three years’ imprisonment and fines.

The law also sets penalties for parents or guardians involved in promoting or conducting the marriage of underage children. Such individuals may face up to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine.

Forcing or coercing a child to leave their area for nikah purposes will now be classified as child trafficking, a crime punishable by five to seven years in prison and fines.

Courts will be empowered to issue restraining orders to prevent the solemnisation of underage marriages, and are mandated to resolve such cases within 90 days.

Extreme heatwave sweeps Pakistan, 48°C recorded

The bill titled, lslamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2024 was moved in the National Assembly by MNA Sharmila Faruqui.

The law will come into immediate effect in the federal capital.